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Sderices 

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WEBSTiR.N.Y.  14SS0 

(716)  S72-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  l^istorical  IVAicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiquea 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  wi«>'^h  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□ 


Coloured  covers/ 
^  '    Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  Mure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  ir  diquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


D 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu6es 


I — I    Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~~\    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Qualit6  in^gale  de  I'impression 

includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

/ 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

>laire 
»s  details 
ques  du 
nt  modifier 
Kiger  une 
ie  filmage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanlts 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6X6  reproduites  avec  Ie 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformitd  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


d/ 
|u6es 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  p^-^ge  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commengant 
par  Ie  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  Ie  second 
plat,  salon  Ie  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —»>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  Ie  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  Ie 
symbole  y  signifie  "FIN  ". 


aire 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6tre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  i'ang\e  sup^irieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  h'i^ut  en  bas,  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


by  errata 
led  to 

ent 

une  pelure, 

Fapon  d 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

nr^^'' 


M 


CI 


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c^*^         S  P  E  E  C  H 


'O/05. 


OP 


Mr.  GOLDWIN  SMITH, 


AT  THK 


B^^nSTQTJET 


OF  THE 


I 


•I 
a 


Chamber  of  Commerce  of  the  State  of  Ilevz-York, 


NOViiMBER    20,    1888. 


.Vft'TF- r07?A' .• 
PRESS    OF    THE    C  H  A  M  H  E  R    OP    COMMERCE. 

188  8. 


h 


t 

t 


at 
1 


s  p  Ji;  Ji;  c  H 


ov 


Mr.  GOLDWIN  SMITH, 


AT   TflE 


B.A.ISJ'QTJEIT 


OF   TUK 


Chamber  of  Commerce  of  trie  State  of  Kew-York, 


NOVEMBER   20,    1888. 


XEW  YOTlK : 
PRESS    OF    THE    CHAMBER    O  l"    C  O  M  M  E  R  C  K  . 

1888. 


W 


SPEECH 


In  resi>on(lin>^  to  the  toast,  "Our  Relations  with  Canada — May 
all  our  (lifforcncos  be  amicably  adjiistetl,  ami  our  intercourse  become 
increasiiii^ly  reciprocal  and  profitable,"  Mr,  Goldwin  Smith  spoke 
as  follows  : 

Mr.  Pjiesident  : 

As  a  Canadian,  I  have  tbe  greatest  pleasure  in  responding  to 
this  toast.  Such  an  expression  of  good  will,  on  the  part  of  such  a 
body  of  American  citizens  as  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  New- 
York  towards  Canada  would  be  welcome  at  any  time,  but  is 
specially  welcome  at  this  time,  when  there  has  been  a  little  misun- 
derstanding, not  between  the  two  communities,  but  among  the 
diplomatists  and  politicians.  Let  me  assure  you,  that  among  the 
great  mass  of  Canadians  your  friendly  sentiments  will  find  a  cordial 
response.  As  you  have  some  gentlemen  among  you  whose  delight 
it  is  to  twist  the  tail  of  the  lion,  so  we  have  some  whose  delight  it 
is  to  twitch  the  feathers  of  the  eagle,  but  their  number  is  small, 
though  they  take  care  that  the  public  shall  not  ov(;rlook  their 
existence.  The  imperial  bird,  probably,  feels  it  as  little  as  the  royal 
beast.  Both  sets  know  pretty  well  that  nothing  serious  will  ever 
hap})en,  and  that  they  are  not  likely  ever  to  l)e  called  upon  to  face 
the  shot.  Why,  there  are  a  million  of  Canadians  already  on  the 
south  of  the  line  ;  ])eople  who  swagger  about  iron-clads  forget  that 
they  would  be  bond)arding  their  own  sons  and  brothers.  As  to 
the  Fisheries  question,  I  believe  you  will  agree  with  me,  that  if 
diplomacy  cannot  settle  it  soon  and  amicably,  I'le  pay  of  the 
diplomatists  ought  to  be  stopped.  It  is  political  party  that  l)reeds 
all  the  trouble.  Let  two  mendjers  of  the  Chaml)er  of  Commerce 
of  New- York  meet  two  members  of  the  Hoard  of  Trade  of  Toronto, 
and  the  (pu^stion  would  be  settled  in  a  few  hours.  There  are  some 
of  us.  however,  who  look  forward  to  a  more  complete  and  lasting 


settlenit'iit  of  all  coniiiiercial  questions  hctwetiii  Canada  and  the 
United  States  than  any  Fisheries  'rreaty  can  atTord.  We  look 
forward  to  a  settlement  conceived  in  the  spirit  of  those  Jiritish 
statesmen  who,  after  the  disastrous  sehism  in  our  race,  desired,  as 
far  as  the  circumstances  of  the  case  would  jxM'init,  to  tjfet  l>ack  to 
happier  relations,  and,  instead  of  our  becoming  mere  aliens  and 
foreigners  to  each  other,  to  have  an  amicable  partition  of  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  Emj)ire.  The  Fisheries  dispute  will  be  at  rest  forever,  when 
the  fisheries  and  the  coasting  trade  are  common  to  us  all. 

I  had  the  honor,  some  time  ago,  to  receive  from  your  President 
a  letter  of  inquiry  on  the  subject  of  Commercial  Union.  I  believe 
I  may  say,  with  confidence,  that  the  subject  is  taking  a  strong  hold 
on  the  minds  of  our  Canadian  people.  The  eyes  of  our  people  have 
been  opened  as  they  have  not  been  for  a  long  time,  if  they  ever 
were  before,  to  the  advantages  of  unrestricted  trade  with  their  own 
continent.  All  our  great  natural  industries — those  of  the  farmer, 
the  lumberman,  the  ship-owner  and  the  fisherman — desire  the 
removal  of  the  tariff  wall.  Even  of  our  manufacturers,  only  the 
weaker  class  object ;  the  stronger  are  ready  foi'  the  open  market. 
You  know  that  party  ties,  even  when  very  irrational,  are  very 
strong,  and  at  bye  elections  it  is  difficult  to  break  them  ;  but  even 
at  our  bye  elections  popular  interest  in  the  question  has  begun  to 
tell,  and  at  our  next  general  election  our  trade  relations  with  the 
United  States  are  evidently  going  to  be  the  main  issue.  To  me  it 
has  always  seemed  that  the  map  settles  the  question.  Nature  has 
manifestly  made  this  continent  an  economical  whole,  ordaining  that 
its  products.  Northern  and  Southern,  shall  supplement  each  other, 
and  that  all  its  inhabitants,  with  their  varied  gifts  and  industries, 
shall  combine  in  creating  its  common  store  of  wealth.  She  has 
unified  it  by  the  great  waterways,  and  where  she  has  run  chains  of 
mountains,  it  has  been  from  north  to  south,  not  ^rom  east  to  west. 
Her  behest  has  been  completed  by  the  railway  system  which  has 
bound  us,  and  is  daily  binding  us  closer  together,  and  which  Sepa- 
ratists help,  with  strange  inconsistency,  to  develop,  wlale  they  set 
themselves  against  the  extension  of  commercial  and  general  relations. 
To  run  a  customs  line  across  this  continent,  cutting  off  its  northern 
margin  commercially  from  the  rest,  is  surely  to  fight  against  nature, 
and  reject  the  benefits  which  she  offers  with  outstretched  hands. 
Viewed  politically,  the  map  of  Canada  presents  avast  and  unbroken 
domain,  including  the  North  Pole,  and  equalling  in  area  the  territory 
of  the  United  States.  But,  viewed  economically,  it  presents  four 
separate  blocks  of  territory,  having  hardly  any  natural  connection 


Canada  and  the- 
ford.  We  look 
of  those  IJritish 
race,  desired,  as 
t,  to  t]fet  hack  to 
tnere  aliens  and 
on  of  the  Anglo- 
!st  foi-ever,  Avhen 
us  all. 

I  your  President 
rnion.  I  helieve 
ng  a  strong  hold 
■  our  peoi)le  have 
me,  if  they  ever 
e  with  their  own 
e  of  the  farmer, 
nan — desire  the 
Dturers,  only  the 
be  open  market, 
tional,  are  very 
them  ;  but  even 
ion  has  begun  to 
elations  with  tbe 
issue.  To  me  it 
on.  Nature  has 
e,  ordaining  that 
nent  each  other, 
3  and  industries, 
ealth.  She  has 
las  run  chains  of 
om  east  to  west, 
^'^stem  which  has 
md  which  Sepa- 
3,  wlule  they  set 
general  relations. 
J  off  its  northern 
t  against  nature, 
stretched  hands, 
vst  and  unbroken 
irea  the  territory- 
it  presents  four 
tural  connection 


with  each  other,  while  eacii  is  naturally  connected  with  th<'  country 
imrjiediately  to  the  south  of  it.  Tl'ore  are  the  Maritime  Provinces, 
cut  off  l»y  a  wide  wilderness  from  old  Canada,  French  and  English  ; 
old  Canada,  cut  off  by  another  wilderness  and  hy  Lake  Superior 
from  the  newly  opened  prairie  region  of  the  North-West  ;  and  the 
prairie  region  cut  off  hy  a  triple  chain  of  mountains  from  liriti.sh 
Coliiml)i;i  —  while  the  Maritime  Provinces  are  eeonomieally  connected 
with  the  Northeastern  States  of  the  Union  ;  old  Canada,  with 
New- York  and  Pennsylvania  ;  the  prairie  i-egion,  with  Dakota  and 
Minnesota.  wlii(Oi  are  divitled  from  it  only  l>y  a  conventional  line; 
and  British  Columbia,  with  the  Pacific  Territories  and  Stales.  If 
you  hap])en  to  see  the  map  prefi.xed  to  the  "Handbook  of  Com- 
mercial I'nion,"  ))ublislied  hy  the  Toronto  Commercial  Union  Club, 
the  great  facts  of  the  economical  case,  and  the  conclusion  to  which 
they  point,  will  he  placed  at  </nce  before  your  eyes.  The  attempt 
to  force  an  inter-provincial  trade  has  failed,  and  oacii  province 
practically  is  almost  confined  to  its  own  market. 

It  is  neiidless  to  tell  you  that  Canada,  if  she  could  only  he  opened 
up  and  get  access  for  her  products  to  their  natural  market,  is  a  great 
storehouse  of  wealth.  She  has  minerals  of  ali;^ost  every  kind  and 
in  immense  al)undance,  and  more  native  copper  than  any  other 
country  in  the  world,  all  waiting  for  a  market,  and  for  the  free  in- 
gress of  American  machinery  and  American  capital.  She  has 
abundance  of  lumber,  which,  however,  is  being  largely  wasted,  and 
will  continue  to  be  Avasted  till  the  lumber  of  this  continent  is 
brought  into  a  common  stock,  assessed  at  its  real  value  and  hus- 
banded accordingly.  She  has  fish,  not  only  in  her  seas,  but  in  her 
great  northwestern  lakes,  whence,  if  the  trade  were  open,  they  w^ould 
find  their  way  to  the  tables  of  your  Middle  States.  She  has  barley 
and  other  special  farm  products,  favored  by  her  soil  and  climate  ; 
she  has  healthy  stock  and  horses,  the  demand  for  which  among  you 
is  very  large.  She  is  a  great  treasure-house  of  nature,  which  awaits 
the  key  of  American  capital  and  enterprise  to  unlock  it.  She  is,  as 
has  been  truly  said,  "  rich  by  nature,  poor  only  by  policy."  She  is 
far  richer  than  Scotland  was  before  her  commercial  union  with 
England  ;  yet  England  gained  greatly  by  that  union,  though  Scot- 
land, perhaps,  gained  still  more.  It  has  been  said  that  the  products 
of  the  two  countries,  being  similar,  it  is  not  likely  that  there 
would  be  much  trade  between  them.  Facts  confute  that  assertion. 
Wherever  an  opening  is  made  in  the  tariff  wall  by  the  remission  of 
a  duty,  as  in  the  case  of  eggs,  trade  rushes  through  ;  even  when 
there  is  no  remission  its  tide  beats  against  and  overleaps  the  barrier 


0 


with  a  force  that  .shows  how  icreat  tlie  vohiiuc  would  he  if  the  har 
I'ier  were  removed.  As  it  is,  otir  trjiilc  with  you  is  ('iglily-two 
millions,  wiiile  our  trade  witli  Great  Uritaiu,  wiiose  ports  are  per- 
fectly <)j)(.'u  to  us,  is  uo  more  than  eii^lity-uiue  uiillioiis;  so  that, 
allowance  Iteivii;'  maile  for  undervaluation  at  the  customs  and  for 
smuniiiinn',  wliieh  ahounds,  as  it  was  sure  to  do,  undi-r  a  idgli  tariil' 
and  MlonL""  an  o])en  frontier,  the  dill'erence  is  alreaily  very  small. 
You  take  foreisjfu  products  to  the  amount  of  sixty-one  millions 
annually,  with  all  of  which  Canada  could  supply  you,  takiny  your 
goods  iu  ret  urn. 

If  vou  need  Canada's  lumber  and  minerals,  and  her  iish  and 
l)arlcy,  sh(>  needs  those  things  which  only  the  wealthier  and  nu)re 
scientific  country  can  ])roduc('  to  advantage,  and  on  a  suilicicntly 
large  scale.  The  Canadian  market  will  he  opened  to  you  as  well  as 
youc  markets  to  Canada.  Let  Detroit  say  whether  this  is  not  to 
he  desired. 

It  was  urged  hy  one  of  yonr  p.umher,  to  wiiom  I  was  talking  just 
before  <linner,  that  the  l)arga:n  l)(>tween  Canada  and  the  United 
States  would  not  be  fail',  bi'cause  Canada  would  open  to  Americans 
a  market  ol'  only  five  millions  in  return  for  her  admission  to  a 
niarket  of  sixty-tive  millions.  l>ut  this,  I  venture  to  think,  is  an 
illusion.  The  five  millions,  like  any  other  five  millions,  included 
within  the  commercial  ]>ale,  like  the  live  millions  of  this  State 
of  New-York,  would  only  receive  their  share  of  the  general 
advantage,  and  would  contribute  as  much  as  they  received.  Be- 
sides, when  these  resources  were  developed  by  access  to  a  good 
market,  the  live  millions  M'ould  rapidly  become  ten  ;  their  Avealth 
would  increase  as  well  as  their  numbers,  and  their  power  of  j)ur- 
chasing  Amei'ican  goods  would  increase  with  their  wealth.  'J'he 
people  of  Canada  are  industrious,  energetic  and  frugal  ;  they  will 
add  their  full  share  to  the  common  stock  of  ])rosperity. 

In  removing  tlie  internal  Customs  line,  it  would  ])e  necessary,  of 
course,  to  assimilate  the  seaboard  tarilfs,  otherwise  there  wouhl  be 
smuggling  through  the  country,  of  which  the  tariff  was  lower  into 
that  of  which  the  tariff  was  higher.  l:>ut  the  tarilfs  have  approached 
ea(!h  other  so  much  that  this  diffiouhy  would  hardh''  be  iusuperalde. 
When  rival  i)retensions  have  to  be  adjusted,  molehills  of  dilUculty 
are  apt  to  swell  into  mountains  ;  l)ut  when  mutual  benefits  are  to 
be  enjoyed,  mountains  of  difficulty  often  shrink  into  molehills. 
Canada,  in  consideration  of  the  great  advantages  which  she  would 
reap,  might  well  consent  to  yield  a  point  to  the  country  which  has 
the  far  larger  interest  and  the  far  longer  coast  line. 


iild  !»('  if  tlio  har- 
oii  is  ciifiitv-two 
)st'  ports  art!  per- 
nillioiis  ;  so  that, 

ciistoiiis  and  lor 
iidcr  a  high  tariit" 
•cady  very  small, 
ixty-oiic   iiiiiiions 

oil,  taking   your 

iiid  her  lisli  and 
ilthior  and  more 
on  a  sufticiently 
to  you  as  well  aH 
r  tills  is  not,  to 

was  talking  just 

and    tlic  United 
en  to  Americans 

admission  to  a 
'  to  tliink,  is  an 
lillions,  included 
lis  of  this  State 
of  the  general 
\'  received.  Be- 
ccess  to  a  good 
n  ;  tlielr  Avealth 
■  power  of  ])ur- 
ir  wealth.  I'he 
mgal  ;  they  will 
ity. 
lie  necessary^  of 

there  would  be 
t  was  lower  into 
lave  api»roached 

he  insuperable. 
Us  of  ditliculty 
1  benefits  are  to 

into  molehills. 
rh'ich  she  would 
ntry  which  has 


(Observe  that  tlie  principle  of  ( '  )mniercial  T^nion  applies  merely 
to  the  internal  trade  of  the  continent.  We  do  not  raise  the  general 
qii<"«tioti  between  protection  ind  free  trade,  wliich  divided  your 
political  )iarti(s  in  the  recent  ekction.  We  do  not  nicfldle  with 
tlu'  seal)oaid  taiitV  otherwise  than  for  the  purpose  ol  assimilation. 
We  only  say  a  line  of  custom  houses  drawn  across  this  continent, 
whether  between  New-N'oik  and  I'ciiiisylvania  or  bciwceii  Xew- 
^'ol■k  and  Ontaiin.  is,  on  any  hypoihcsis,  a  nuisance,  and  ought  to 
be  removed.  The  Protectionist,  it  lie  likes,  may  regard  ( 'oiiiniereial 
Union  as  the  complei  ion  ««!  the  pi'oteeted  area.  l}olli  parties  here, 
apparently,  are  for  rtMliiction  of  revenue,  and  Commercial  Knion 
gives  you  reduction  of  revenue  and  extension  ot  trade  at  the  same 
time. 

jS'or  do  w(!  touch  any  political  question.  The  Kxecutive  of  our 
Commercial  Union  (  lul»,  which  is  the  spicial  organ  of  the  move- 
ment, comj)rises  men  of  both  political  parties,  and  men  who,  like 
myself,  do  not  belong  to  any  political  jiarty  at  all.  ^^ C  want  a 
verdict  on  the  straight  commercial  (|uestioii.  whether  iiiteinal  free 
trade  will  not  be  l)eiieiicial  to  the  commerce  ami  inilustrv  of  this 
(!oiitinent.  A\'c  want  a  vi-rdict  on  that  question  apart  irom 
all  the  jtolitical  issues  with  which,  in  the  vortex  of  party  politics, 
it  has  been  mixed.  The  body  to  which  I  have  now  the  honor 
of  speaking  is  one  which  can  give  such  a  verdict,  because  it  is 
one  of  those  bodies  which,  while  politicians  and  diplomati.«ts  are 
vexing  the  world  Avitli  disputes,  often  of  an  unp!otital>le  kind, 
concerns  itself  with  the  real  and  substantial  interests  of  the 
conimunitv.  We  are  told  tliat  the  world  must  alwavs  be  iioverned 
by  party,  and  that  there  is  no  other  possible  way  of  carrying  on 
free  institutions.  T  suspect  we  would  soon  be  in  a  bad  way  if  the 
realm  of  commerce  and  industry  were  not  practically  governed  by 
its  own  chiefs,  men  raised  to  their  jtositions  by  genuine  qualities, 
and  who  have  hajjjtily  hitherto  used  their  ]i<)wer.  in  the  main,  with 
a  firm  and  just  hand.  Ibit  if  jiarty  government  is  to  be  at  all 
tolerable,  party,  in  its  struggles  for  power,  must  respect  the  bread 
of  Uie  people. 

\'ou  cannot  take  up  a  Canadian  newsjtaper,  or  read  the  Canadian 
coriesjtondenee  of  one  of  your  own  journals,  Avithout  seeing  that 
Canada  is  debating  lier  ])olitica!  destiny,  and  that  there  is  great 
diversity  of  opinion  among  us.  Home,  mostly  of  the  oflicial  class, 
look  forward  to  perpetual  or,  at  least,  indefinite  continuance  in  the 
state  of  a  dependency.  Some  cherish  tlie  hope  that  Canada,  in  spite 
of  her  Avant  of  compactness  and  the  French  wedge  in  her  heart,  will 


i 


become  an  independent  nation.  Some  think  that  the  shadow  can 
be  made  to  go  back  on  the  dial  of  colonial  history,  and  tliat  Canada, 
in  common  with  the  other  colonies,  will  surrender  a  part  of  her 
self-government  to  the  government  of  an  Imperial  Federation. 
Others  there  are  who  believe  that  the  English-speaking  race  upon 
this  continent  will  some  day  be  one  people.  As  it  was  one  people 
before  the  civil  war  of  the  last  century,  so  they  believe  that  it  will 
in  time  be  one  people  again,  and  that  England,  well  advised  as  to 
lier  true  interest,  will  applaud  and  bless  the  union.  Without  the 
consent  of  England,  Canada  will  do  nothing.  To  Canada,  at  all 
events,  England,  according  to  her  liglits,  has  been  a  good  mother. 
What  Mobodv  in  his  senses  desires  is  forcible  annexation,  which 
would  give  you  disaffected  citizens,  and  introduce  discord  into  the 
vitals  of  the  I'opublic.  A  despot,  when  he  annexes,  can  send  down 
a  viceroy  ;  you  would  have  to  give  the  ballot,  which  would  be  used 
by  unwilling  citizens  for  the  [)urposes  of  their  discontent.  If  you 
want  union  at  all,  it  is  a  free  and  equal  union,  a  union  of  common 
interest  and  of  the  heart,  :uch  as  a  citizen  of  either  country  may 
advocate  without  treason,  and  welcome  without  dishonor.  In  the 
iceantime,  while  the  political  destiny  of  the  tv/o  countries  is 
working  itself  out,  why  should  not  our  industry  and  commerce 
enjoy  the  advantages  of  continental  free  trade  ? 

Let  me  personally  thank  you,  Mr.  President  and  gentlemen,  for 
the  honor  and  pleasure  of  being  here  as  your  guest  to-night. 
Twenty-four  years,  I  believe,  have  passed  since,  a  stranger  coming 
from  England,  I  first  experienced  the  courtesy  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  of  New- York.  It  was  not,  I  think,  at  one  of  these 
annual  banquets,  but  at  a  re-union  of  some  other  kind.  That  was 
in  the  dark  days  of  the  war,  though  the  sun  of  American  destiny 
was  beginning  to  break  through  the  clouds.  Your  paper,  if  I  re- 
collect rightly,  was  at  about  fifty  per  cent,  discount.  After  my 
return  to  England  I  was  at  a  large  dinner  party  at  which  some  per- 
sons of  distinction  were  present.  I  was  the  only  tnan  at  that  table 
who  believed  that  you  would  pay  your  debt.  Now  it  is  not  you 
that  do  not  want  to  pay  the  debt,  but  the  debt  that  does  not  want 
to  be  paid.  The  French  monarchy  was  the  mightiest  in  Europe, 
and  an  aimual  tleficit,  which  at  last  did  not  exceed  twenty-five 
millions  of  dollars,  was  sufficient  to  lay  it  in  the  dust. 

I  almost  feel  that  I  have  been  presumptuous  in  addressing  such 
an  asseml)ly  as  this  on  such  a  subject  as  the  trade  relations  be- 
tween the  two  "ountries,  being,  as  I  am,  nothing  but  a  private  Cana- 
dian citizen.     I  have,  however,  at  least  no  interest  or  motive  other 


•^  V 


Lit  the  shadow  can 
y,  and  that  Canada, 
tider  a  part  of  her 
aperial  Federation, 
speaking  race  upon 
.s  it  was  one  people 

believe  that  it  will 

well  advised  as  to 
lion.     Without  the 

To  Canada,  at  all 
sen  a  good  mother. 

annexation,  which 
ce  discord  into  the 
xes,  can  send  down 
hich  would  l)e  used 
liscontent.     If  you 

union  of  common 
nther  country  may 

dishonor.     In  the 

tv/o    countries    is 

try  and   commerce 


than  the  desire  that  our  Canadian  people  should  enjoy  the  fair 
earnings  of  their  industfy  and  the  measure  of  prosperity  which 
nature  has  designed  for  them.  Let  me  once  more  cordially  re- 
ciprocate the  kind  and  courteous  words  of  the  toast  to  which  I  am 
responding,  and  assure  you  that  they  will  find  no  doubtful  echo  in 
the  hearts  of  the  great  mass  of  the  Canadian  people. 


ind  gentlemen,  for 
ur   guest  to-night. 

a  stranger  coming 
of  the  Chamber  of 
k,  at  one  of  these 
IV  kijid.     That  was 

American  destiny 
four  paper,  if  I  re- 
scount.  After  my 
at  which  some  per- 
y  man  at  that  table 
^ow  it  is  not  you 
that  does  not  want 
ightiest  in  Europe, 
exceed  twenty-five 
dust. 

in  addressing  such 
trade  relations  be- 
but  a  private  Cana- 
38t  or  motive  other 


